Football game



E. H. SARGENT Oct. 1-0, 119.33.

FOOTBALL GAME Filed Feb. 25. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 10, 1933.SARGENT 1,929,757

FOOTBALL GAME Filed Feb. 25. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10, 1933. E. H.SARGENT 1,929,757

FOOTBALL GAME Filed Feb. 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 10,1933 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE 1,929,757 FOOTBALL GAME Edgar Haskell Sargent, Evanston,Ill. Application February23, 1932. Serial No. 594,499 10 Claims.(01.273-94) The present invention pertains generally to football games.More particularly, the invention pertains to that type of football gamewhich is designed to be played by two contestants or players andcomprises a board in the form of a football field and two teams ofeleven men each.

One object of the invention is to provide a football game of this typewhich follows, andclosely resembles in play, the outdoor game offootball,

and is a closer approach to the latter than previously designed footballgames, in that the men which form the two teams are designed to bepushed over the board in the execution of plays by means of pushers inthe hands of the two contestants.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a football game of thelast mentioned character in which the men embody fiat bases whereby theyare supported in substantially upright positions,

manipulation of the pushers upon the bases, they may be tilted or upsetfor tackling, diving or blocking purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide Afurther object of theinvention is to'provide a football game of the aforesaid type in whicheach team embodies a man which may be sub- 40. ",tituted for a backfieldman, during the execution of a kicking play,'and is so constructed thatone leg is free with respect to the base and may be used, by flippingthe fingerrthereagainst, to kick an object representing a ball.

A still further object of the invention isto provide a football game ofthe type and character heretofore specified wherein the bodies of themen are inclined forwardly. so that they areproperly constructed andarranged for tackling purposes and in order that in the execution offorward pass plays, the ball may beplaced thereagainst and flipped withthe finger towards an objective. V

In addition, itis contemplated as one of the objects to the invention toprovide a football and are so constructed and balanced that by gamewhich is generally of new and improved construction and may bemanufactured at a low and reasonable cost, and in which the play isdetermined solely by manual manipulation of the men.

Other objects of the invention and the various characteristics andfeatures of the present game will be apparent from a consideration ofthe following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter'set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at thecon clusion hereof. V

.In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specificationor disclosure and. in 79, which like numerals of reference denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a football game embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective showing the manner in which the men aremanipulated or moved by the pushers in scrimmage plays; 7

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank of the type which is used inconnection with the formation of the men;

Figure 4 is a side view illustrating the manner in which a man may bemanipulated by a pusher to tackle a man of the opposing team; I

Figure 5 is a, perspective of one of the kickers; j

Figure 6 is a perspective showing the manner 5 in which the kicker ismanipulated by a flip of the finger to effect a kick of the ball; and

' Figure '7 is a perspective illustrating the manner in which a forwardpass may be made by flipping the ball with the finger across the back ofone of the men.

The football game which forms the subject matter of the invention isdesigned to be played by two contestants or players and consists of aboard Band a team A of men and a team B of 5 U men. The board isadaptedto be laid upon a card table 9 or like supporting member, and isformedof cloth or fabric so as to form a slightly resilient supporting surfacefor the men. It is square in conformation and is numberedand lined onthe top surface thereof so as to represent a foot ball field. Elasticbands 10 serve to keep the a board taut and connected to the table 9. 7These bands extend across the corners of the board and are adapted tounderlie the corners of the table, as illustrated in Figure 1 of thedrawings. A pair of H-shaped members 11 form goal posts for the field.These members are located beyond the end zones of the field similarly tothe goal posts for a regular football playing field, andhave 11 ,l

braces or supports 12 at the lower ends thereof so as to hold them in anupright position. During play of the game, the goal post-forming members11 are preferably moved to one side of the playing field so as not tointerfere with manipulation of the men.

The team A consists of seven linemen 13, four backfield men 14 and asubstitute kicker 15. The linemen 13 correspond to the center, guards,tackles and ends of a regular football team; The backfield men 14 aresimilar in design and construction to the linemen 13 and correspond tothe half-backs, quarter-back and full-back of a one of the rear cornersof the base 17, and is attached to a flap 23 which extends upwardlyfrom, and is formed integrally with, the rear end of the base. The otherleg extends forwardly from the trunk 20 and embodies a foot 24. The

latter is cemented or otherwisesecured to the front cornerof the basewhich is diagonally opposite the corner to which the rearwardlyextending leg extends. The knee parts of the legs 19 are bent as at 25,so as to give them a lifelike appearance. The trunk 20 and the head 22are coplanar and are inclined upwardly and forwardly so that thecenter'of massthereof is located over the foot .24. The arms 21 are bentat the shoulders and elbows so that they extend forwardly in the mannerillustrated in the drawings.

The blank 16 is cut or stamped from any suitable type of comparativelytough sheet material, such,

for example, as strawboard, and is shaped to form the base 17, thebody-part 18 and the flap 23. The flap 23 is cut at one end thereof soas to form the foot 24 and disconnect the latter from the. base. It isbent on'the line 23 so that it extends vertically andis colored ordesigned at the other end thereof so as to form a foot for the leg whichextends rearwardly from the trunk 20. The foot 24, after being severedor cut from the base, is cemented or otherwise secured in the properposition on the top face of the base. The kicker 15 is adapted, duringkicking plays, to be substituted for one of the backfield men 14. It isexactly the same in construction and design is the linemen l3 and thebackfield men 14 of the team A except thatthe forwardly extendinglegthereof is not attached to the base in order that it may be used, ashereinafter described, to kick a flat,oval-shaped member 26 representinga ball.

The. lineman and backfield men of the team A are'adapted to be moved orshifted over the board 8 by a pusher 27. The latter is adapted to beheld by one of the contestants or players and embodies at the front endthereof an abutment-forming urface 28 and a comparatively thin,blade-like extension 29. The abutment-forming surface 28 is adapted tobe brought into engagement with the fiaps 23 when the pusher ismanipulated so as to shift the men. The extension 29 under- .ies the Vabutment-forming surface 28 and is adapted to be inserted under thebases so that it is possible, during pushing of the men by the pusher,to upset the men for tackling or blocking purposes. By virtue of thefact that the men are constructed so that the legs thereof are'connected to diagonally opposite corners of the bases, and the trunksof the body-parts are inclined forwardly and upwardly, the men are sobalanced that they may be readily upset. To advance a man, the extension29 of the pusher is inserted under the base and the abutmentformingsurface 28 is brought into contact or engagement with the flap 23.Thereafter, the pusher is. moved forwardly with the result that the manis caused to slide over the board. If it is desired to have the man diveforwards or sideways for blocking or tackling purposes, the

pusher is raised so as to upset the man in the proper direction. Theends and backfield men of the team A have marked on the bases and backsthereof different numerals or indicia 30 so that they may be identifiedin connection with the play.

The team B consists of seven linemen 31, four backfield men 32 and asubstitute kicker (not shown), and is manipulated by the othercontestant or player by means of a pusher 33. The linemen and backfieldmen of the team B are similar in construction and design to the linemenand backfield men of the team A, and consist of substantially fiat,rectangular bases 34 and body parts 35. They are preferably coloreddifferently than the men of the team A so that the contestants orplayers may readily distinguish the two teams. The pusher 33 is similarin design to the pusher 27 and is provided at the front end thereof withan abutment-forming surface 36 and a thin, knife-like extension 37. Theends and backfield men of the team B are provided with differentnumerals or indicia 38 on the bases and backs thereof.

The game is designed to follow as closely as 2 possible the rules andplay of regular football.

If desired, the game may be played as follows:

Kick-0 7 A coin is first tossed to determine which contestant or playerhas the choice of kicking or receiving. The contestant having the teamwhich is required or has been selected to kick off, lines his men ontheir own forty yard line. The contestant or player having the teamwhich has been required or selected to receive, arranges his men in anydesired formation on or behind their own forty-five yard line. Thecontestant having the kicking team substitutes his kicker for one of thebackfield men and effects a kick of the ball into the territory of theopposing or receiving team by first placing the ball on the board andagainst the free or swinging leg of the kicker, and then flipping theleg by the finger. The latter action serves to project the ball down thefield. In the event that the ball strikes one of the men of thereceiving team, it is presumed to be caught by the man that isstruck. Ifthe ball lights within the field without touching one of the men of thereceiving team, the contestant or player having charge of such teammoves, by manipulation of his pusher, one of the men so that it touchesthe ball in order to have that man effect the catch. If the ball lightsin the end zone, the contestant having the receiving team may elect tohave one of his men run with the ball or to put the ball in play on hisown twenty yard line. After kicking the ball, the contestant having thekicking team replaces the kicker for the man for whom the kicker wassubstituted and when ready, gives the pushers; the defensive player orcontestant attempting to movehis men down the field so as to tackle theoffensive man having the ball, and the offensive contestant attemptingto block out the men of the defensive teamand to advance the 1 ballcarrier down the field as far as possible.

When the ball carrier is blocked or upset by a man of the defensiveteam, the play is concluded and the ball is deemed to be downed at thefarthest point to which the ball carrier has advanced. In

manipulating the defensive team, the contestant or player having suchteam may, by manipulation of his pusher, upset his men so asto block orknock down the men of the defensive team, thatis, the team that haskicked the ball. In

Zmanipulating the men of the defensive team, the

contestant or player having such team is able-to tackle or bring downtheball carrier by moving one or more of his men into the path ofmovement of the ball carrier and then upsetting his man or men so as toknock the ball carrier to the board.

Scrimmage After the kick-off, the contestant having the defensive teamarranges his linemen so that the bases thereof are on, or in back of,the line of scrimmage, and places his backfield men in, any desireddefensive position. Thereafter, the contestant having the oifensive teamarranges his mediately thereafter saying the word go. At

the word go, both contestants are permitted to move their men, thedefense attempting to tackle the man of the offensive team whose numberhas been called, and the offense attempt;- ing to block the defensivemen and to advance the runner. In executing the play, the contestantsmove their men, one at a time, by manipu lating the pushers, ashereinbefore described and as shown more particularly in Figure 2 of thedrawings. When the man of the offensive team who has been designated asthe ball carrier is blocked out or tackled by a man of the defensiveteam, the play is concluded.

Forward pass A forward pass may be made at any time and from anyformation by the offensive team. The pass play is started by thecontestant having the offensive team calling out the number of one ofthe backfield men who is supposed to make the pass, and announcing go.At the word go, the two contestants start to move their men the same asthough ascrimmage were taking place. In orderv to prevent the supposedpasser from being tackled, the contestant having the ofiensive team sayspass. This informs the contestant having the defensive team that theplayer to whom the ball was supposedly passed at the start of the play,isto pass the ball. After the word pass, the men eligible to receivepasses (ends and backfield men) are moved into a position wherein thecontestant having the offensive team desires to have the pass completed.At the same time, the contestant having the defensive team moves his meninto defensive positions and deemed to be completed.

flipped with considerable accuracy.

so as to upset, if possible, the expected receivers of the pass. Whenthe man desired by the offense to receive the pass is moved to thedesired location or position, the contestant having the offensive teamcalls the number of the intended pass receiver and. announces pass toindicate that the ball is in the course of travel from the passercto thereceiver. Immediately upon announcing the number of the receiver and theword pass, play is discontinued by both contestants. team then placesthe ball on the back of the passer, as shown in Figure '7 of thedrawings, and flips the ball with the fingers towards the receiver. Ifthe ball hits the receiver, the pass is If the receiver is missed but anopponent, that is, a man of the defensive team, is struck, the pass isdeemed to be intercepted. If the ball touches the ground before touchingeither the pass receiver or an opponent, the pass is deemed to beincomplete. By virtue of the fact that the heads of the men are coplanarwith the trunks, the ball may be In the event that the pass isintercepted, play is resumed when the contestant executing the passtakes his pusher in his hand. Under such circumstances, the contestantof the intercepting team endeavors, by manipulation of his pusher,

to advance, as far as possible, the man having intercepted the ball.

Punt

A punt is executed by the contestant with the offensive team calling thenumber of the backfield man to Whom the ball is supposedly passed fromthe center'and announcing go. At the word go, both contestants start tomove their men and the contestant having the defensive team may tacklethe offensive player whose number has been called until the contestanthaving the offensive team calls kick. After the The contestant havingthe offensive word kick, the contestant having the offensive team, thatis, the team that is executing the kick, moves his men down the field tocover the receiver of the kick, and at the same time the contestanthaving the defensive team moves his men into position to block the kick.The kick itself is effected by the contestant with the kicking teamsubstituting his kicker for the man whose number was first called. Afterplacement of the kicker on the spot formerly occupied by the removedman, the kickers right leg is held in a raised position, as shown inFigure 6 of the drawings, and the ball is placed on the foot. Bysnapping 'the kickers leg with the fingers, the

contestant with the kicking team causes the ball to be projected downthe field. The play is-con-' is based upon strategy and manualmanipulation of the men instead of chance.

If desired, the game may be-used to demonstrate plays in connection withthe coaching of a regular football team.

The herein described game may be manufactured at alow and reasonablecost, inasmuch as The invention is not to be understood as re-' strictedto the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scopeof the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I vclaim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board withafootball field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming two teamsand adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in anyand all directions over the board in connection with the execution ofplays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said menconsisting of fiat, substantially rectangular bases, slidable over theboard and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases and simulating inappearance regular football players, and having said bodyparts arrangedand constructed so that the centers of mass thereof overlie the frontportions of the bases in order that during pushing, the men may bereadily upset for blocking or tackling purposes by tilting themforwardly.

2. In a game of the character described, the

-eombination of a board with a football field marked thereon, and aplurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by theplayers of the game at random and in any and all directions over theboard in connection with --the execution of plays similar to those ofthe outdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable overthe board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases, and beingbalanced and constructed-so that they may be readily upset duringpushing thereof forblocking or tackling purposes, the men of the twoteams that form the backfield men having different numerals or indiciaon the bases thereof so that they may be selectively designated by theplayers as ball carriers.

3. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board witha football field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming twoteams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random andin any and all directions over the board in connection with theexecution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football,said men consisting of bases slidable over the board andbody-partsextending upwardly from the bases and simulating in appearanceregular football players, and having said body-parts so'arranged andconstructed that the centers of mass thereof overlie the front portionsof the bases in order that during pushing of the men by the players themen may 3e readily upset for blocking or tackling purposes by tiltingthem forwardly, the men of the two teams forming the ends and backfieldmen hav ing different numerals or indicia on the bases and backs of thebody-parts in order that they nay be selectively designated by theplayers as ball carriers or in connection with the plays,

4. In a game of the character described, the combination of a boardwith' a football field marked thereon, and a plurality of men formingJwo teams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at randomand in any and all directions over the board in connection with theexecution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football,said men consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-partsextending upwardly from the bases, and being balanced and constructed sothat they may be 'tion of forward pass plays;

5. In a game of the character described, the

combination of a board with a football field marked thereon, and aplurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by theplayers of the game at random and in any and all directions over theboard in connection with v the execution of plays similar to those ofthe outdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable overthe board and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases andsimulating in appearance regular football players, said bodyparts beingbalanced and arranged with respect to the bases so that the men may bereadily upset, during pushing thereof, for blocking or tacklingpurposes, and having the backs thereof inclined forwardly and rearwardlyso that forward'pass plays may be executed by placing a fiat, ballsimultating member thereagainst and flipping it with the fingers.

6. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board witha football field marked thereon, a plurality of men forming two teamsand adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in anyand all directions over the board in connection with the execution ofplays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said menconsisting of bases slidable over the board and body-parts extendingupwardly from the bases and simulating in appearance regular footballplayers and having said body parts arranged and constructed so that thecenters of mass thereof overlie the front portions of the bases in orderthat during pushing, the men may be readily upset for blocking ortackling purposes by tilting them forwardly, and pushers adapted to beheld by the players and used in connection with pushing and,forward'tilting of the men.

'7. In a game'of the character described, the combination of a boardwith a football field marked thereon, a plurality of men forming twoteams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random andin any and all directions over the board in connection with theexecution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football,said men' consisting of bases slidable over the board and body-partsextending upwardly from the bases and being balanced and constructed sothat they may be readily upset by pushing thereof for blocking ortackling purposes, and pushers for pushing the men adapted to be held bythe players and having thin, blade-like parts at the front ends thereoffor disposition under the bases and use in connectionwith upsetting ofthe men.

8. In a game of the character described, the combination of a board witha football field marked thereon, a plurality of men forming two teamsand adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random and in anyand all directions over the board in connection with the execution ofplays similar to those of the outdoor game of football, said menconsisting of fiat, substantially rectangular bases slidable over theboard and provided with upstanding flaps at the for pushing the menadapted to be held in the 'rear ends thereof and body-parts extendingupwardly from the bases and simulating in appearance regular footballplayers, and having said body parts so arranged and balanced withrespect to the bases that during pushing of the menby the players theymay be readily upset for blocking or tackling purposes, and pushers foruse by the players in pushing the men adapted to be held in the hands ofthe players and having fiat surfaces at the front ends thereof forengage-'- ment with the flaps at the rear ends of the bases of the men.

9. In a game device of the character described, the combination of aslightly resilient, fabric board with a football field marked thereon, aplurality of men forming two teams and adapted to be pushed by theplayers of the game at random and in any and all directions over theboard inconnection with the execution of plays similar to those of theoutdoor game of football, said men consisting of bases slidable over theboard and body-parts extending upwardly from the bases and beingbalanced and constructed so that they may be readily upset duringpushing thereof for blocking and tackling purposes, and pushers hands ofthe players and having thin, blade-like extensions at the front endsthereof for insertion between the board and the aforesaid bases and usein upsetting the men.

10. In a game of the character described, the combination of a boardwith a football field marked thereon, and a plurality of men forming twoteams and adapted to be pushed by the players of the game at random andin any and all directions over the board in connection with theexecution of plays similar to those of the outdoor game of football,said men consisting of flat, substantially rectangular bases slidableover the board and body parts extending upwardly from the bases andsimulating in appearance regular football players, the legs of the bodypart of each man extending one forwardly and one rearwardly and securedto diagonally opposite corners of the base and being bent and arrangedso that the weight or center of mass of the body part is substantiallyover the forwardly extending leg in order that the man may be readilyupset for blocking or tackling purposes.

EDGAR HASKELL SARGENT.

